Apple's foldable iPhone has become a mythic creature at this point, but it's interesting to hear the latest developments, nonetheless. The latest one is all about the hinge. According to a tipster on Weibo with a good track record when it comes to Apple-related news, the company is designing the hinge with liquid metal.
Interestingly, we've heard this one before. Ming-Chi Kuo once hinted that Apple would likely use liquid metal for the future iPhone Fold hinge (if that's the planned marketing name). Using liquid metal brings several benefits, with the main one being rigidity. According to the rumor, the “amorphous alloy” or the “metallic glass” is 2.5x stronger than titanium, making it a perfect solution for the hinge.
The structure from amorphous particles is resistant to bending, deformation and pressure, improving the longevity of the hinge and the device as a whole. Additionally, the hinge design may help reduce or eliminate the display crease.
The flexible display requires strong support, so it can help the panel resist finger pressing, bending, etc. Of course, the flexible OLED tech needs to be improved as well, and Apple is reportedly working with hardware suppliers to eliminate the crease.
Source (in Chinese)
